Su Yumian went home and checked the fridge first. There were still plenty of ingredients left from yesterday’s shopping, so she pnned a meal: braised beef brisket with potatoes, sweet and sour pork ribs, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, and stir-fried vegetables.

  Her quick and efficient chopping skills surprised He Songcheng, who had no cooking experience whatsoever.

  “Most people these days either order takeout or eat out. Girls who cook like you are becoming rarer.”

  Su Yumian smiled faintly. “Everyone has their own way of living. I just got used to cooking for myself.”

  As she busied herself, He Songcheng took in his surroundings.

  The apartment wasn’t big, but it was clean and neatly arranged. A small bookshelf in the living room caught his attention—filled with professional books, except for one that stood out: a physics book.

  Realizing it was rude to stare too long at a girl’s home, he quickly looked away.

  Before long, the food was served. The aroma mixed with the warmth of freshly cooked rice, making his stomach growl.

  He took a bite of the sweet and sour ribs and widened his eyes in shock. “This is amazing! You’re a fantastic cook!”

  Having been used to heavy and greasy takeout, He Songcheng was blown away by Su Yumian’s cooking—it was practically divine.

  His exaggerated reaction made her chuckle. “Eat as much as you like.”

  He nodded. “Seriously, thanks for this meal.” Then, as if suddenly thinking of something, his eyeshes fluttered slightly in hesitation. “You’re so good at cooking, and you’re an amazing person overall… Anyone who dates you must be really lucky.”

  Before Su Yumian could respond, a loud, urgent knock interrupted them. She frowned, put down her chopsticks, and said, “Keep eating. I’ll check it out.”

  The moment she opened the door, Jiang Qiting grabbed her wrist and tried to drag her out. Su Yumian was completely confused.

  “Come with me to the hospital! My brother is sick and needs you.”

  Su Yumian didn’t move, lowering her gaze. “We broke up. His matters have nothing to do with me.”

  Jiang Qiting couldn’t believe what she just heard.

  “My brother has a perforated stomach ulcer, and you’re still being petty? Do you even have a heart?!”

  “You love him, don’t you? Is this your so-called love? You know he only blurted out the breakup in a moment of anger, yet you took it seriously and are now throwing a tantrum, bming him for not begging you to stay.”

  “For six years, has my brother ever treated you badly? You lived in a vil, wore designer brands, picked whatever jewelry you liked, and had a bck card to spend freely…”

  Listing everything out, she even felt envious herself. She didn’t even have a bck card…

  “And to think I even defended you before! All I’m asking is for you to visit him at the hospital, and you won’t even do that?”

  Su Yumian’s expression remained cold, her tone indifferent. “That’s right. I won’t. You can leave now.”

  Jiang Qiting scoffed in disbelief. “Fine! Remember what you said today. I hope you keep up this tough act and don’t come crying to my brother, begging to get back together!”

  With that, she kicked the door hard before storming off. As the sound of footsteps faded, Su Yumian’s grip on the doorknob tightened slightly.

  “…Uh, are you okay?”

  He Songcheng awkwardly spoke up. He hadn’t caught everything, but he could tell it was an argument between two women.

  Su Yumian closed the door, turned back, and smiled at him. “I’m fine. Let me get you another bowl of rice.”

  He gnced at her face. Calm. Nothing unusual. “Alright.”

  But the atmosphere had clearly changed. Despite the delicious food, He Songcheng couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable while eating. After finishing, he quickly excused himself and left.

  The apartment fell into silence.

  As she cleaned up the dishes, Jiang Qiting’s words echoed in her mind.

  Perforated stomach ulcer…

  Lost in thought, her hand slipped, and a bowl shattered. She instinctively reached down to pick up the pieces, only to cut herself. A sharp sting ran through her fingertips. Before she could react, tears fell onto the back of her hand, completely out of her control.

  Six years. Not six days, not six months. Some habits had already been carved into her bones.

  The moment she heard Jiang Yihuai was hospitalized, she instinctively felt worried, and instinctively wanted to go to him. Thankfully, her rational mind stopped her. She would learn to stop worrying about him. She would learn to stop shedding tears for him.

  From the passionate love they once shared to the exhaustion that set in over time, until they finally broke apart—when had the cracks first appeared?

  Maybe it was the first time he broke a promise.

  Maybe it was the first time he lied.

  Looking back, all that remained were vague, fragmented memories.

  Six years—enough for a tragic love story.

  Or something completely forgettable.

  —

  Jiang Qiting stormed down the stairs in her high heels. She was so frustrated that she didn’t notice the trash in the hallway and tripped.

  “Ugh! What kind of garbage dump is this? It’s filthy and stinks!” she cursed loudly.

  Suddenly, her phone rang. “Brother? Why are you calling? Didn’t the doctor tell you to rest?”

  She was still fuming but softened her tone slightly when she remembered he was a patient.

  In the hospital, Jiang Yihuai had just woken up and heard that Jiang Qiting had gone out.

  “…She went to find Su Yumian and ask her to visit you,” Cheng Zhou shrugged.

  Meaning: She was unstoppable. Jiang Yihuai’s eyes flickered. He waited another forty minutes. During that time, he drank water, sat up, turned over, and kept gncing at the door. Finally, unable to hold back anymore, he called Jiang Qiting.

  “Where are you?”

  She hesitated. “Outside.”

  “How long until you get here?”

  Jiang Qiting had no intention of going back to the hospital after failing to bring Su Yumian, so she made an excuse.

  “I’ll stop by home first to get the chicken soup Mom made for you—”

  “Su Yumian didn’t come with you?” His voice immediately sharpened.

  Crap.

  Jiang Qiting hesitated. “…No.”

  Jiang Yihuai’s grip on his phone tightened. “Who told you to go find her? What does my hospitalization have to do with her? Do any of you understand what ‘breakup’ means?! Stop meddling!”

  “Oh, sure! I’m the problem now! I’m the annoying one, right? Fine! You two are so high and mighty—neither of you care about each other!” Jiang Qiting snapped.

  “…What do you mean?”

  She let out a cold ugh.

  “Su Yumian made it clear—your life, your death, none of it has anything to do with her. She doesn’t want to see you in the hospital, period. Satisfied now?”

  “Hello? Brother? Brother?!”

  The call had already ended.

  …

  In the hospital room, Aunt Wang gnced at Jiang Yihuai’s dark, stormy expression, then at the shattered phone on the floor.

  Oh dear.

  Another one destroyed.

  She instinctively clutched her own phone tightly.

  No way was she lending it to him this time!